"I first came across Margaret in 1987 when I joined the Free Press as Deputy Editor to Richard Tear.

"As the staff was very small, he used Margaret’s word skills on a fairly regular basis. I employed her as a freelance feature and advertising feature writer for publications including the Free Press, The South Yorkshire Times,The Doncaster Courier and Times Then & Now.

"Margaret’s modest appearance belied a very keen mind and sharp sense of humour. Her advertising and news features were as fine as any crafted by anyone I know. She had the gift to make even the most boring subject sound interesting – a very rare talent."

She spent her career at the Doncaster Free Press working at our former offices in Sunny Bar.

The wife of the later Melvin Chapman, who died in August 2013, was also a former public relations officer with Doncaster Council and was a keen amateur photographer and was secretary of Doncaster Camera Club for a number of years.

She was also involved with Doncaster Grand Theatre Trust which attempted to save the historic theatre and get it re-opened. She was a director from March 2008 to December 2010.

In later years, she lived with her brother Gordon, who she survived.

Added Martin: "I know that in recent years – despite not being religious - she supported the Salvation Army and Red Cross, shaking collection tins and organising fund-raising events."

The funeral service will take place on June 13 at 9.40am at Rose Hill Crematorium.